Description

An excellent scramble on solid granite, with spectacular views along the summit ridge.

Start at the low point on the ridge (Peppermint Pass) and follow its crest, at first low angle, pass the large tower on the left and begin to climb steeper rock, using whatever weakness you can find, generally stay left of the ridge itself (which is soon joined by the North Arete). Below the summit ridge the rock is quite steep and you may want to use a rope. Gain the summit ridge and follow it to the required summit mantle.

Location

Approach: From Dade Lake hike across benches and perhaps snow then more benches up to Peppermint Pass.

Descent: Descend down Class 4 rocks on the West side to sand, follow left of the north ridge then cut over it eastwards and down snow/scree and steps back to Dade Lake.

climbed this last week, phenomenal. did some 5.7 up high, last 5 pitches roped and stayed on the ridge. some steep snow and exciting talus for sure, ice axe handy for decent. the 4th class ridge, some 2/3 of the route had at least a 5.2 move on it... overhanging reach to ledge bellyflop with dirt and detritus...

There are two ways to approach Dade lake. Option 1: You can take a climbers trail to the right just after Long Lake and follow the obvious path to the upper Treasure Lakes, then, I recommend gaining the ridge to the left, navigate through the greenery and follow this to Dade Lake. Option 2: You can follow the Morgan Pass trail to the lower Treasure Lake and head up the talus to gain Dade Lake. Option 2 is MUCH easier. We humped packs up Option 1 and down Option 2. If going overnight, I feel the best option is to camp at Chicken Foot Lake and go light up the talus sections. If you don't mind the talus and chose to overnight at Dade, we found the water in Dade to be very buggy without a filter. We were able to get much clearer water flowing out of the lake.

Awesome climb with commanding views over the Little Lakes Valley but before attempting this climb please understand that your guidebook has lied to you. This is not a 4th class scramble. The Northeast Ridge is a 5.6 alpine climb with some areas of high exposure where an unprotected fall would be fatal. A rope and rack are absolutely mandatory.